Vacuum Distilled Post Blend Crude Palm and Rubber Seed Oil Methyl Esters: Optimisation and Parametric Studies

Optimisation studies on post blended crude palm and rubber seed oil methyl esters were investigated. Post blended characteristics of methyl esters have been studied before and after vacuum distillation. The fuel properties of methyl esters met the international criteria of EN 14214 and ASTM D6751. Influential parameters that effects transesterification reaction have been analysed and optimised by response surface methodology. Catalyst loading and reaction temperature are the most influential variables which effects the methyl esters conversion. The optimised values were found to be alcohol to oil ratio of 6:1, catalyst loading of 1 wt%, reaction temperature of 65oC and reaction time of 2.5 h.